EASTERN PROVINCE

KIREHE — The number of women who have adopted family planning in Kirehe district is still low, a report has indicated.

According to an evaluation report on the district performance contracts presented last week, only 13.6 percent of the 70,408 women in the district have adopted family planning methods.

The report also showed that only 39 percent of pregnant women in the district give birth in health centres. Only 3 percent has been achieved in the fight against malaria infection.

Areas where the district scored above average included, Justice (90 percent), training of security personnel (100 percent), and information and communication technology (50%).

The district has attained 70 percent in fighting abuse of women and children rights, while fighting of genocide ideology stands at 98.5 percent.

The Eastern Province director of economic development, Jean Marie Vianney Makombe, urged local leaders to use family performance contracts as the basis of achieving the goals set by the district. He also warned leaders against falsifying statistics for the sake of getting marks during evaluation.

Patrick Nkunzumwami, the district Mayor also urged the leaders to always give factual reports in order to identify areas which need more effort.

The performance contract focuses on four pillars of good governance, justice, economic development and people’s welfare. According to the evaluation, the district is still below average in all areas.

The 240 houses for Genocide survivors were built as part of this year’s goals but the houses lack windows and doors.

At least 120 of the planned 327 houses for Rwandans who were repatriated from Tanzania have been built.

Also built, though not originally planed, are 100 biogas plants. About 55 hectares of cassava were planted.

Commenting on the results, Nkunzumwami attributed the low percentages on the drought that hit the area early this year. He explained that too much time was spent trying to save the maize crops which were on the verge of destruction. The 12,000 hectares of maize planted in the district last season were only saved by irrigation techniques which were applied.

"We focused much on saving the maize plants. But this time we are to focus much on the 2008 performance contracts and I believe by the last phase everything will be as they are supposed to be," he said.

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